Cooler with container centering means

Abstract

A foamed polystyrene beverage container cooler. In one embodiment an annular wall is nestably received between a base and lid each of which defines a cylindrical inner cavity to receive a half barrel size beverage container. The outlet of the container extends centrally through an aperture located in the top wall of the lid locating the container concentrically with respect to the cylindrical inner surface of the cooler allowing ice to circumferentially surround the container. A skirt and rim mating combination between the annular wall and the lid and between the annular wall and the base secure the components together. In an alternate embodiment, a cooler to receive a pony keg includes a base and lid each of which has an annular wall defining a cavity sized to allow ice to surround the keg. The keg outlet extends through an aperture in the lid locating the keg concentrically with respect to the interior surface of the cooler. The lid has a downwardly extending skirt nestable within an upwardly extending rim integrally formed on the base.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A beer barrel cooler comprising: a plastic foam produced lid having a horizontally extending top wall with a aperture extending therethrough to receive a beer barrel outlet, said lid having a first annular wall depending from and integrally attached to said top wall with said annular wall having a first outer surface and a first inner surface with said inner surface having an interior diameter of a size to allow said lid to be placed around a beer barrel with space between said annular wall and said barrel, said aperture being located centrally in said top wall to locate said beer barrel concentric within said annular wall allowing ice to occupy said space and extend completely circumferentially around said beer barrel, said annular wall including a bottom end with a continuous cylindrically extending first skirt integrally attached thereto;   a plastic foam produced middle ring having a second annular wall with said second annular wall having a second outer surface and a second inner surface with said second inner surface having an interior diameter of a size to allow said second wall to be placed around said beer barrel with second space therebetween, said second wall including a bottom end with a continuous cylindrically extending second skirt integrally attached thereto, said second wall including a top end of reduced thickness forming an upwardly extending first rim and an upwardly facing first ledge with said first skirt fitting matingly with respect to said rim and resting atop said ledge locating said beer barrel concentric within said ring allowing ice to occupy said second space and extend completely circumferentially around said beer barrel; and,   a plastic foam produced base having a horizontally extending bottom wall upon which said beer barrel may rest, said base having a third annular wall extending upwardly from and integrally attached to said bottom wall with said third annular wall having an third outer surface and an third inner surface with said third inner surface having an interior diameter of a size to allow said beer barrel to rest therein atop said bottom wall with third space between said barrel and said third annular wall, said base including a top end of reduced thickness forming an upwardly extending second rim and an upwardly facing second ledge with said second skirt fitting matingly with respect to said second rim and resting atop said second ledge locating said beer barrel concentric within said base allowing ice to occupy said third space and extend completely circumferentially around said beer barrel.   
     
     
       2. The cooler of claim 1 wherein: said first skirt is located inwardly of said first outer surface forming an outwardly facing first recess, said first rim is located on said second outer surface with said first ledge located inwardly and downwardly therefrom directing any melted ice to flow outwardly between said lid and said ring in a horizontal direction and then vertically up and further outward in a horizontal direction; and,   said second skirt is located inwardly of said second outer surface forming an outwardly facing second recess, said second rim is located on said third outer surface with said second ledge located inwardly and downwardly therefrom directing any melted ice to flow outwardly between said ring and said base in a horizontal direction and then vertically up and further outward in a horizontal direction.   
     
     
       3. The cooler of claim 2 wherein: said lid, said ring and said base have equal vertical heights.   
     
     
       4. The combination of: an upstanding beer barrel with a vertical longitudinal axis and an outlet extending vertically upward therefrom, said barrel having a circular cross section along the length of said vertical longitudinal axis;   a plastic foam produced lid having a horizontally extending top wall with a aperture extending therethrough to receive said outlet, said lid having a first annular wall depending from and integrally attached to said top wall with said annular wall having a first outer surface and a first inner surface with said inner surface having an interior diameter of a size to allow said lid to be placed around said beer barrel with space between said annular wall and said barrel, said aperture being located in said top wall to locate said beer barrel concentric within said annular wall allowing ice to occupy said space and extend completely circumferentially around said beer barrel, said annular wall including a bottom end with a continuous cylindrically extending first skirt integrally attached thereto;   a plastic foam produced middle ring having a second annular wall with said second annular wall having a second outer surface and a second inner surface with said second inner surface having an interior diameter of a size to allow said second wall to be placed around said beer barrel with second space therebetween, said second wall including a bottom end with a continuous cylindrically extending second skirt integrally attached thereto, said second wall including a top end of reduced thickness forming an upwardly extending first rim and an upwardly facing first ledge with said first skirt fitting matingly with respect to said rim and resting atop said ledge locating said beer barrel concentric within said ring allowing ice to occupy said second space and extend completely circumferentially around said beer barrel; and,   a plastic foam produced base having a horizontally extending bottom wall upon which said beer barrel may rest, said base having a third annular wall extending upwardly from and integrally attached to said bottom wall with said third annular wall having an third outer surface and an third inner surface with said third inner surface having an interior diameter of a size to allow said beer barrel to rest therein atop said bottom wall with third space between said barrel and said third annular wall, said base including a top end of reduced thickness forming an upwardly extending second rim and an upwardly facing second ledge with said second skirt fitting matingly with respect to said second rim and resting atop said second ledge locating said beer barrel concentric within said base allowing ice to occupy said third space and extend completely circumferentially around said beer barrel.   
     
     
       5. The combination of claim 4 wherein: said aperture is located centrally in said top wall.   
     
     
       6. The combination of claim 5 wherein: said first skirt is located inwardly of said first outer surface forming an outwardly facing first recess, said first rim is located on said second outer surface with said first ledge located inwardly and downwardly therefrom directing any melted ice to flow outwardly between said lid and said ring in a horizontal direction and then vertically up and further outward in a horizontal direction; and,   said second skirt is located inwardly of said second outer surface forming an outwardly facing second recess, said second rim is located on said third outer surface with said second ledge located inwardly and downwardly therefrom directing any melted ice to flow outwardly between said ring and said base in a horizontal direction and then vertically up and further outward in a horizontal direction.   
     
     
       7. The cooler of claim 6 wherein: said lid, said ring and said base have equal vertical heights.   
     
     
       8. A cooler for holding a container of liquid comprising: a plastic foam produced lid having a horizontally extending top wall with a aperture extending therethrough to receive a container outlet, said lid having an first annular wall depending from and integrally attached to said top wall with said annular wall having a first outer surface and a first inner surface with said inner surface having an interior diameter of a size to allow said lid to be placed around a container with space between said annular wall and said container, said aperture being located in said top wall to locate said container concentric within said annular wall allowing ice to occupy said space and completely circumferentially around said container, said annular wall including a bottom end with a continuous cylindrically extending skirt integrally attached thereto;   a plastic foam produced base having a horizontally extending bottom wall upon which said container may rest, said base having a second annular wall extending upwardly from and integrally attached to said bottom wall with said second annular wall having an second outer surface and an second inner surface with said second inner surface having an interior diameter of a size to allow said container to rest therein atop said bottom wall with second space between said container and said second annular wall, said base including a top end of reduced thickness forming an upwardly extending rim and an upwardly facing ledge with said skirt fitting matingly with respect to said rim and resting atop said ledge locating said container concentric within said base allowing ice to occupy said second space and completely circumferentially around said container.   
     
     
       9. The cooler of claim 8 wherein: said aperture is located centrally in said top wall.   
     
     
       10. The cooler of claim 8 wherein: said skirt is located inwardly of said first outer surface forming an outwardly facing first recess, said rim is located on said second outer surface with said ledge located inwardly and downwardly therefrom directing any melted ice to flow outwardly between said lid and said base in a horizontal direction and then vertically up and further outward in a horizontal direction.